A Wife for the Billionaire
Chapter 131: SOFIA

Chapter 131: SOFIA

I don’t know how long I stood there, staring at the bend where the black car had disappeared from.

Thoughts swarmed my mind,

"Did that just happen?"

"I wasn’t getting married"

"Richard had saved me"

It still felt surreal. One minute my entire world has been on the brink of shattering and now, all was well. Beyond well, all was perfect.

"Sofia" a voice boomed within. Pulling me out of my thoughts.

Dread filled me as it dawned on me, Alicia and her daughters were still waiting for me.

I still had an explanation to do. With heavy steps and a pounding heart, I made my way inside.

"How did you do it? What did you do?" Alicia asked as I walked to where she sat with her daughters.

"I didn’t do anything, ma’am. I only answered his questions like every other applicant. I guess I must’ve done better than others, for him to even consider me for this position"

"Did you sleep with him?" Mira asked.

"Of course, I didn’t" I quickly responded.

The mere thought of it was sickening. That she would accuse me of such, they thought so low of me.

"Then what did you do for Richard Wellington who if I remember correctly made a statement about taking a break from hiring a personal assistant. What did you do to change his mind?" Alicia asked again.

It was obvious they were not going to believe I merely secured the spot just like that, but I couldn’t tell them any of the events that led to this very moment. The tears. The sacrifices. The close calls. They wouldn’t understand, so why bother?

"To be honest, ma’am. I don’t know, maybe the clerk interview had been a front for what he was actually looking for, a personal assistant. I don’t know, but I had no idea how and what I did to warrant this" I lied.

It was a lie, but there were ounces of truth in it. Like the part where I said that I had no idea what I did to deserve the position. I had an idea of course, but honestly I didn’t see this coming. I meant like on that day, he offered the job. Reading Vera wasn’t that big of a deal for him to consider me as a personal assistant, not just a personal assistant, a factor in making one of the biggest decisions he could make, choosing a wife.

And to crown it all, he had left everything he was doing, to come save me. He needed me, no matter what he claimed, he was desperate for my help.

"Hope you are not lying to me, because if you are, all it will take is a few phone calls for me to know" Alicia threatened.

As much as I believed that indeed she could sniff out anything, I still lied again,

"I’m not lying"

"Very well, I will handle Charlie, go about your duties. And make haste for dinner, all these has me hungry"

"I’m starving" Anna quipped in agreement, raising.

"You always are," her sister accused. "I wonder what Mr Wellington would think when he finds out"

"These days, I hear men prefer a woman who eats rather than those who poke around a plate." Anna returned.

"Keep fooling yourself, thank God for your body if not I’m sure you’d have been obese by now"

"Mirabel!" Alicia reprimanded.

"I was only telling her the truth," Mira said in her defense.

"Sometimes, I wonder if you are actually my twin" was all Anna said, before running up the stairs.

"Go and apologize to your sister, don’t come downstairs for dinner unless she has forgiven you"

"It’s not my fault she’s too sentimental" Mira grumbled, as she made for the stairs.

When they came down for dinner an hour later, Anna claimed she had forgiven her twin, but she barely spoke or even finished her food. At least, Mira had the sense to realize that she really had hurt her.

None of that worried me though, because I knew that by morning, they would have made up. Mira wouldn’t sleep until she really apologized.

I was more concerned about everything that happened with Richard’s visit. Including the fact that the twins were part of the selection. What the fuck?

With every moment I spent with the billionaire, my life developed a few more webs. Strings of entanglement wrapping itself around me. Trapping me like a meal caught in the very center of the web.

No wonder, Alicia didn’t so much as mention the leash she had wrapped over my neck. She wanted one of her girls to be selected, and that meant being in Richard’s good graces. Besides, the very mention of my father could jeopardize her daughters’ chances of being chosen.

I finished my duties around 10am, Mr Felix had helped, his own way of making up for almost getting me married. I still haven’t forgiven him though.

I had wanted to call Anna as the billionaire had instructed, but there were holes in his instructions. He talked about a Halloween Bash, but he didn’t mention the deets involved except for the date. And what if Anna asks about how I became his Personal Assistant. Things like this needs a concrete story, one that must be the same for the both of us when recounted.

With these worries, I decided to call the billionaire. It was 10:17pm when I dialed his number. The same one he had used to message me, some nights ago.

After the third ring, he picked,

"Why are you calling me at this damn hour?" He grumbled, drowsily.

Was he sleeping at 10pm? How odd.

"Sorry I didn’t think you’d be asleep at this time."

"And why is that?"

"Nothing, just that I thought you’d be a nighthawk?"

"Because I’m a billionaire, right? Because you expect me to be at a hotel drinking myself to stupor with the wealth I was privileged to inherit, right?" He asked, not even taking a pause from my last statement.

"Not just drinking, but partying and doing God knows what with all those girls who throw themselves at your feet, that’s more like it" I had wanted to add, but it was late and I was already feeling sleepy.

"No, it’s not that." I said instead, just as quickly, "It’s just that the last time you contacted me with this number, the text you sent was around 1am, if my memory serves me right."

I sighed inwardly for coming up with such a valid point. The guy was like a spoiled child, quick to be agitated at the slightest chance.

I knew what he was aiming for. And I wasn’t going to give him that satisfaction, I was tired, every part of my body ached and I just wanted to get this over with so I can lay down. Shower and lay down.

"So what is it? You better have a valid reason for waking me up"

If he could be this cranky simply because I mistakenly woke him up, I pity the servants who worked for him.

A man like him was the type servants would dread waking up even if the house was burning up in flames.

"You told me to call Anna, but you didn’t add the supposed details, like the story behind how I became your PA, and besides the date of the Halloween party or whatever, I have nothing else to tell her"

"Is this seriously why you called me?" he grumped.

I resolved to silence. Better for him to take the hint than to answer and he would capitalize on that.

"I’m beginning to doubt if I was wrong in hiring you" he whined.

"Technically, you haven’t hired me, I’m yet to sign the documents, remember? I appreciate the lies you told to save me and in turn you have my services, but that can only begin after I sign the contract"

Dismissing my words like they meant nothing, he said,

"The first thing you’re to know as my PA is to do exactly as I say without questions, that I didn’t offer you the details should tell you something. Your work is to call Anna and give her the info, how she sources the details or write the issue itself is not your concern, have I made myself clear?"

I was already hating the idea of working with him. He was intolerable. But not unmanageable. I’ve been dealing with his proud ass for days now and I knew exactly how to handle him.

"I’m afraid not. Like I rightly said before, you have my gratitude for saving me today, even though you claim to do so for yourself alone, but I’m not obligated to do anything for you, especially in relation to work which is exactly what you are asking for, unless I’m bound by the contract, which I’m not, so good night, Mr Wellington."

"Oh you wouldn’t dare," he said.

Perhaps I would have listened if he had any other important note to share, but daring me, that I wouldn’t take. I don’t care if he saw me at my worst today.

"Or would I?" and I ended the fucking call.